Oscillating toothbrush



Dec. l, 1953 s. YusKo OSCILLATING TOOTHBRUSH Filed Sept. 19, 1952 'JNVENTORJ STANLEY Yusmo ATTORNEYS v BY W4 11mm mwz Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OSCILLATING TOOTHBRUSH Stanley Yusko, Danville, Va.

Application September 19, 1952, Serial No. 310,384

3 Claims.

This invention relates to toothbrushes, and more particularly to a toothbrush having a rotary head which is automatically oscillated responsive to the normal use of the toothbrush.

A main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved toothbrush provided with means for automatically oscillating the bristlecarrying head thereof when the handle of the toothbrush is longitudinally reciprooated during brushing of the teeth, the improved toothbrush being simple in construction, being compact in size, and involving only a few parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved toothbrush having an oscillatory bristle-carrying head which is automatically oscillated responsive to the longitudinal reciprocation of the toothbrush during brushing of the teeth, the improved toothbrush being inexpensive to manufacture, being sturdy in construction, and providing an improved healthful massaging action on the teeth and gums of the user.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an improved oscillating toothbrush constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross sectional detail View taken through the handle portion of the toothbrush on the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical cross sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical cross sectional view of the end portion of the handle of the toothbrush of Figures 1 to 3, showing the knob element on said handle portion rotated into locking position, whereby oscillation of the bristle-carrying head of the toothbrush is prevented.

Referring to the drawings, the toothbrush is designated generally at II and comprises an elongated brush head I2 having a series of bristle tufts I3 arranged longitudinally on one side thereof. integrally formed on the head I2 and extending substantially axially thereof is the shank I4 which is slidably and rotatably received in a tubular handle I5. The shank portion I4 is formed with a substantially helical slot I6,

2 and extending through said slot is the transverse pin member I l secured in diametrically extending position inside the handle I5. Rotatably mounted on the pin member Il are a plurality of rollers I8 which are in rolling contact with the slot I6, whereby the shank I4 is rotated relative to the handle I5 responsive to longitudinal movement of said shank in the handle, because of the camming cooperation of the helical slot I6 with the rollers I0.

As shown in Figure 4, the handle I5 may be formed of two longitudinally extending, opposing mating sections I9 and 20 of substantially semicircular cross sectional shape, said sections being rigidly secured together along their longitudinal edges to denne the tubular handle I5.

Designated at ZI is a knob member which is rotatably secured to the end of the tubular handle I5, as by the provision of an annular rib 22 formed on the shank portion 24 of said knob member, said shank portion being received in the end of the handle I5, and the rib 22 being rotatably received in an annular groove formed in the inside wall of the tubular handle I5.

integrally formed on the inner end of the shank I 4 is a longitudinally extending lug 24 which is segment-shaped, as shown in Figure 4, and which is arranged so that its arcuate surface is coaxial with the main body of the shank I4. Integrally formed on the inner end of the shank 23 of knob 2! is a similar segment-shaped lug 25 having its arcuate surface coaxial with the shank I4 and having the same radius as the arcuate surfaoe of the elongated lug 24. Designated at 25 is a coiled spring which is disposed between the end of shank 23 and the opposing end of the shank I4, surrounding the respective lugs 24 and 25 and biasing the shank I4 away from the shank 23. Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the shank I4 at the extreme outwardly moved position thereof relative to the sleeve I5, and it will be noted that the shank I 4 may be moved inwardly against the biasing force of spring 26, the lugs 24 and 25 being angularly spaced by a sufficient degree to allow the lug 2,4 to move inwardly substantially into abutment with the end of shank 23 without engaging the lug 25. However, the knob 2l may be rotated to a position such as shown in Figure 6, whereby the lug 25 opposes longitudinal movement of the lug 24, thus locking the shank I4 against inward movement into the handle I5.

In using the device, with the knob ZI arranged as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the head I2 of the toothbrush is automatically rotated responsive to thus restraining 'the shank lll against moving 10 longitudinally in'the handle i5 when the brush is used, and thus preventing rotation of the?.

head I2. While a specific embodiment of an improved automatically oscillating toothbrush has., lfgeenl,TII

disclosed in the foregoing description, it'vsill"bi` understood that various modifications lwithinithe spirit of the invention may occur to thosezskillledr. in the art. Therefore, it is intended tli'aifno"r elongated brush head having a series' of bristle tufts arranged longitudinally on one side thereof, a shank rigidly secured to said brush head, a tubular handle slidably receiving said shank, said shank being formed with a substantially helical slot extending therethrough, a transverse member secured in said handle and engaging slidably in said slot, a knob rotatably secured in the end of `said,handlerespective opposinglongitudinally egtending abutment elementsonlsaid shank and knob, the knob `'being rotatable to bring said abutment elements at times into longitudinal alignment to prevent longitudinal movement of tl'shalii'nsaid handle, and a coiled spring surrqundingsaid abutment elements and biasing said shank away from said knob.

limitations b e placed on the invention except as de'nedf'by "the scope oi'f' th appended claiiis `Wliat`isclaimedis'; oscillating toothbrush comprising an elongated brush head having a'series' 'of bristle tuft's'arra'ngedlongitudinally on one side thereof, 25

a'shank` rigidly secured to said brush`heada tubular-'handle-A slidably receiving fsa'id shank, saidi shank` being formed with a substantially helical slt extending` therethrough, a transverse member secured in said handle and engaging slidably in said siot-,akoobffotatgbly secured@ the endjv ofsaid handle,' 's'p'ring means in "s'aid handlebiaSng'said shanknaway from said knob, andrrespective, opposing longitudinally 'extend-l ing abutment elements onvsaid' shank vand knob, the knob being rotatable to bring said abutment elements at times into "longitudinalalignment, to prevent longitudinal movement of the shank'in 3;. A'n-u oscillating .toothbrush comprising an elongated brush head having a series of bristle tufts arranged longitudinally on one side thereof, a shankrigidly secured yto said .brush he adf a tubular handle slidably receivingsaid-shank;said shank? beingF formed-With a substantiaflly` helical slot 'e'iten'ding therethrough, a transverse-'pinsecured in said-handle and extending throughsaid slot, roller means o'rsaid pinA engaging said slot torotate thev shankresponsivev-to longitudinal movement ofi theshfankrelative to the handle,- a knob rotatably; Seemed in the end 0f said handle, respective @Pasing longitudinally: '2X- tendine, abutment elements@ Seid iliakf'and knob" the K110i? beine rotatable te brine: Seid abutment.. elements at times .ir1i9 longitudinal alignment to.' iel'liglorleiiufiilal more t 0f the sheer,m.$ai 'ha111.1f,ande coilegsnrin medina Said abutment elements., ,arg1 b said shank. Eais/ay from. Said lillob- STNEzY' YUSKQAL No ,references dises.

oscillating tootlfibrus lrA comprising: an 

